Attack Fought Hard but Fall 5-4 to Firebirds
The Attack returned to the Bayshore Saturday night to take on the Flint Firebirds in a tight matchup that saw several lead changes with the Attack eventually falling 5-4. Jake Crawford had 2 goals, Easton Mikus had his first OHL goal, and Cole Zurawski had a goal for the Attack. Sam McCue, Urban Podrekar, Matthew Mania, Christopher Thibodeau and Nathan Aspinall answered for the Firebirds.
The first period was fast-paced and action-packed, with McCue opening the scoring for the Firebirds three minutes into the game, converting on a shorthanded breakaway. Just over a minute later, Easton Mikus evened it up for the Attack burying the rebound in close for his first OHL goal. Zurawski then added to the momentum, finishing off a beautiful passing play from the newly minted “Kid Line” giving the Attack their first lead of the game, 2-1. The one-goal lead did not last long as Urban Podrekar found the back of the net just 3 minutes later.
The second period started with a frenzy and got the Bayshore fans going, when Jake Crawford scored two goals in the span of 33-seconds to put the Attack up 4-2 early in the middle frame. As the period continued, Carter George made big save after big save to keep the Attack in the lead, but the Firebird’s offence continued to push and were able to break through when Matthew Mania score his 5th of the season with 10 minutes left in the period. The Attack continued to defend their lead until Christopher Thibodeau snuck the puck past George with just over aa minute and thirty remaining, tying the game at 4.
Both teams ratcheted up their defensive and physical play in the final period. Despite some quality chances on offence and key blocked shots and saves from George, it was the Firebirds who were able to register the only goal in the third period, a power play goal off the stick of Nathan Aspinall that would make it 5-4, a score the would hold until the final buzzer.
The Bears look to get back in the win column on Wednesday, January 22 as they will host the Barrie Colts. After Wednesday they will head off to Kitchener for a matchup against the Rangers on Friday, January 24 at 7:00 pm. To finish off the week they get to face the Sarnia Sting at the Bayshore on Saturday, January 25 at 7:00 pm once again. Tickets for all Attack home games are available at the MacVicar and McComb Sutton Realty Attack box office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com.